Universal Audio Sphere DLX Modeling Microphone

Universal Audio Sphere DLX Modeling Microphone combines a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with the Sphere 180 DLX plug-in to accurately model 38 of the most sought-after vintage microphones including Neumann, Telefunken, AKG, and more. The mic can be configured to operate either in mono or in stereo. Auditioning and switching between mics during a session can be tedious, but thanks to the plug-in, you can change mic type, polar pattern, reduce bleed, room coloration, and even adjust the proximity effect—either during or after tracking vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, stringed and wind instruments, percussion, room sound, and more. The Sphere DLX is a dual-capsule microphone with dual outputs, custom-designed to capture the three-dimensional soundfield with exacting detail—including the directional and distance information otherwise lost with a conventional single-channel microphone. Remarkably rugged and featuring -10 and -20 dB pads, the mic can handle in excess of 140 dB SPL before clipping and won't be damaged by high SPLs or air blasts as some vintage microphones can be. It also has a self-noise level of 7 dB-A SPL, well below most vintage microphones and comparable to many of the best modern microphones. Two XLR mic preamp inputs are needed to operate the mic with the plug-in, as all mic-modeling and other advanced DSP features occur in the Sphere 180 DLX software. Note that the mic can also be used as a standard condenser mic (no modeling) with only one XLR mic preamp required.

Universal Audio Apollo Twin USB Heritage Edition desktop 10x6 USB audio interface combines the sound, feel, and flow of analog studio recording with powerful DUO Core real-time UAD processing and a hearty bundle of 25 stellar UAD plug-ins. Furnished with 24-bit / 192 kHz converters performing well beyond the interface's price point, the Apollo Twin USB gives musicians, producers, songwriters, and audio engineers the appreciable value of clear, high-resolution recording and mixing with low distortion (-110 dB) and great dynamic range (118 dB). The interface features two XLR-1/4" mic/line combo inputs and a 1/4" Hi-Z input, all with Unison integration for precise UAD emulations of classic analog preamps—impart vintage character of your choosing on microphone and instrument recordings while bypassing the unpredictable nature of old equipment. Thanks to the switchable low-cut filter, pad, polarity inversion, 48V phantom power, and stereo linking on each analog input, you can efficiently optimize your incoming signals with straightforward buttons on the Apollo Twin USB's face. In addition to the two primary analog inputs, you can record up to eight more channels by connecting external preamps with ADAT or S/PDIF optical outputs to the TOSLINK optical input port on the Apollo Twin USB. The built-in DUO Core processing allows you to monitor and record audio using classic analog emulations with near-zero latency and no burden on your computer's CPU. The plug-in bundle included with the Heritage Edition empowers you with 25 top-notch plug-ins ranging from vintage compressor and EQ collections to virtual guitar/bass amps and time-based processors. The included Console application provides control and recall of all interface and UAD plug-in settings including channel-strip presets, drag-and-drop functionality, and dynamically resizable windows. Equipped with a dedicated stereo monitor feed, a front-panel headphone output, and two additional 1/4" line outputs, the Apollo Twin USB can serve as the monitor controller for your studio's speakers and headphones. Plus, its clearly visible input and output meters help you keep track of your levels. At any point, you can increase the power of the Apollo Twin USB through integration of qualified Universal Audio hardware. Add UAD-2 PCIe DSP accelerator cards, UAD-2 Satellite Firewire, and UAD-2 Satellite USB to expand DSP resources without abandoning the Apollo Twin USB.